The Erie County Medical Center is altering its patient visitation guidelines because of the rapidly increasing number of Omicron COVID variant cases.
ECMC is suspending all inpatient visitation except when medically necessary, or for family members or legal representatives of patients in imminent end-of-life circumstances beginning Friday.
The hospital said this restriction is being implemented in an effort to protect ECMC’s vulnerable patients and caregivers from avoidable exposure to infection. In addition, ECMC is experiencing staffing shortages, like many other hospitals and health care facilities, and the visitation suspension is meant to further protect frontline caregivers from the virus.
Patients and their loved ones may communicate via telephone and, when possible, via computer features such FaceTime. ECMC will assist patients with technology who do not have personal devices.
